A treatise of the incomparableness of God in his being, attributes, works and word…

1. It is efficacious in converting the Soul: The word of God can stop the tide of nature, when it runneth with the greatest violence; yea, it can turn it the quite contrary way: Let a man be in the height of his Strength, in the heat of his Youth, ruffling and bustling among the Sparks of the times, taking a large draught of carnal Pleasures, and having a full gust of sensual Delights, making his whole life but a diversion from one Pleasure to another, (as if he were sent into the Earth, as Leviathan into the waters, only to play and sport there,) when this man is in his best estate, in the Zenith of Health and Strength, in the Meridian of his Age, promising himself a long day of life, and putting the day of death far from him, and thereby giving himself the more liberty to the service of his Lusts; yet if the word of God come to this man, who sucketh in Wind as the wild Asses Colt, it makes him pluck in his Plumes, bid adieu to his foolish Pleasures, leave his most beloved Lusts, loath himself for ever loving them; it alters the man's Palate, that is bitter now which was sweet before; and he cannot savour ⟨p. 176⟩what formerly was his heaven and happiness; it changeth the bent and frame of his heart, that now he forsaketh with detestation what formerly he followed after, as his only felicity and chiefest good; The wild man is tame, the obstinate man is pliable, and the distracted man is recovered to his wits, Psal. 119.9. Men and Angels may persuade, but God only can prevail. The words of Creatures may work for an outward reformation, but the word of God alone for an inward renovation: He only that made the Heart can mend it. Humane Counsels may do somewhat towards the hiding of the corruptions of Nature, but Divine instructions are only effectual for the healing of corrupted Nature: The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the Soul, Psal. 19.7. Converting the Soul; The Law of man may bind the Body to its good behaviour, but the Law of God alone can bring the Soul to its good behaviour. To turn a Lion into a Lamb, Darkness into Light, a Stone into Flesh, Death into Life, (all which is done in conversion) can be effected by the Word of none but a God, Isa. 11.8, 9, 10.